AtomicX V203’s are made mostly from metal which has a really attractive sandblasted finish. Featuring swivelling earcups and hinged arms that snap in place, these headphones fold to a compact size for storage.

While they may not be the lightest of headphones at 350g, I’m more than happy to trade the extra weight for the obvious durability benefits of their metal construction.

The arms curve around the rear of the earpiece housing and provide a small amount of vertical rotation.

The earcups are made from a soft-touch leather stitched neatly over a one-inch thick memory foam. The combination of soft padding, rotating cups and the ‘over-ear’ design make these headphones one of the most comfortable sets I’ve worn. I have no doubt I could wear these all day without any discomfort.

Features

Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)

The ANC on the V203 headphones work exceptionally well and seem to have the added bonus of enhancing the richness of the soundstage. It’s activated with a switch on the left earpiece. When on, there is a very slight hiss sound, although It’s barely noticeable unless you’re in complete silence. It works by monitoring the surrounding noise and produces a sound wave to cancel it out. Engines, fan noise and low hums are almost completely removed while voices can still be heard clearly.

Bluetooth Performance

The AtomicX headphones feature Bluetooth 4.0 with EDC (Efficient Double-Cycle). Its range is 10m (33 feet) unobstructed and Bluetooth signal proved very reliable during testing. I actually paired these with a Bluetooth transmitter plugged into my television and watched a movie. I had expected to see a latency delay between the video and the audio but was pleasantly surprised to see an almost perfect sync.

Bluetooth Version

Range

Profiles

4.0 +EDC

10m (33 feet)

A2DP / AVR CP / HSP / HFP

Controls and Functions

The manual controls are found on the right earpiece. A central power button and two clickable sections above and below for volume and track skipping. All three buttons are flush with the surface and are well integrated with the design.

Music Playtime (NO ANC)

Music Playtime (WITH ANC)

Standby Time

Charge Time

16 Hours

8 Hours

250 Hours

2 Hours

Audio Performance

As previously mentioned there is a slight difference in the audio signature when you toggle the active noise cancelling on and off. Both sound great, but I slightly favour the audio with the ANC on. The sound is a little warmer around the mids. The overall quality is very well balanced and clean throughout the volume range.

Driver Size

Driver Sensitivity(S.P.L)

Frequency Response

Ø40mm

105±3dB

20Hz—20KHz

Verdict

The AtomicX active noise-cancelling wireless headphones really have a lot going for them. They’re extremely comfortable, have a great battery life and an impressive sound quality. The ANC, folding arms and carry case make them ideal for travelling and their metal construction should ensure lasting durability.

If you commute to work on a noisy train or sit in an office full of whirring fans and AC units, these headphones could make a huge difference. Anyone looking for an affordable set of noise-cancelling headphones should definitely check them out.